Chronic Diseases

Chronic Diseases include a broad list of conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, which last for at least 1 year. They are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion report 50% of adults have at least one chronic disease and 25% of adults have two or more.¹ Patients diagnosed with a chronic disease should be carefully examined for secondary disease. Tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol use contribute to developing chronic diseases. Poor oral health has also been cited as a contributing factor, symptom, and consequence of chronic diseases.² The relationship between oral health and chronic disease has been well documented in a growing body of evidence.^3-9